A partly circular route of about 5.5 miles along Squires Lane to the Spa ponds via the river and Flood Dykes, then along Clipstone Drive before returning to the village down Squires Lane.

Start on Squires Lane

1. Half way up the lane are Old Barn Cottages, as the name implies they were probably converted in the 19th century from the barn to Clipstone Hall which stood on the adjacent site.

2. Follow Squires Lane to the top and turn left at Cavendish Lodge and Farm

The farmyard and barns are private property , there is no right of way.

The path follows the track with the single bar gate across.

3. Turn right into Cavendish Wood and follow the narrow path through the wood. When you come to the farm tracks carry straight on past the beech-wood. The track drops down the hill towards the river.

4. At the river turn left between the river and the lakes. The lakes were formed when the land sank due to mining subsidence. Keeping to the track follow the river upstream. Kingfishers can sometimes be seen along this section.

5. At the next bridge you can turn and go up the hill if you don’t want to do the full walk. Otherwise carry on following the track. It turns right and goes up the hill.

6. At the top, turn left along the old Flood Dyke track. The Flood Dyke snaked along the hill carrying water & sewage from Mansfield. Sluices then allowed it to flood the water meadows on the slopes below. The irrigation system took 20 years to built and involved moving huge amounts of soil to produce the smooth slopes

7. The path you are following is crossed by Packman’s Road, turn left down the hill. Buried underneath the concrete on the bridge is the old stone bridge.

8. At the river follow the path round to the Spa Ponds. Our path continues past the first pond then turns left along the dam and then right up the hill. The remains of Beeston Lodge which is thought to have been the gatehouse of the feudal pele are on the top of the hill to your left, above the ponds.

9. Follow the path up the hill with the field on your left until you come to the playing field. At the top of the playing field turn left down Clipstone Drive.

10. The route back is an easy downhill walk along the almost straight lane until you get back to Cavendish Lodge.The ‘straight mile’ was the site of early car and motor bike trials. From 1914to 1920 the field to the right were the site of Clipstone Army camp.

Kings Clipstone walks & rides    Route 2 KC      December 2006